The Southern Chester County Chamber of Commerce announced this week that Luis Tovar is the 2023 Outstanding Citizen of the Year Award recipient. 

Tovar will receive recognition at the Chamber’s annual Chairman’s Gala on Saturday, March 18 at Longwood Gardens. 

Tovar is an active member of the Kennett Rotary Club and a volunteer with the Bayard Taylor Library Adult Literacy Program.  He pours countless hours into two main passions that have touched and served a myriad of community members in the Kennett Square area. Tovar serves as president of Kacie’s Cause, a not-for-profit organization that he co-created with Andy Rumford 10 years ago. Kacie’s Cause is instrumental in building awareness and offering support to families as they navigate through substance abuse. Through this important work, friends and family of addicted loved ones come together to reduce isolation and offer hope.

Doug Doerfler, the Southern Chester County Chamber of Commerce chairman of the board and president of Kennett Square Borough Council, said,  “I am so excited to be honoring Luis Tovar with this year’s Outstanding Citizen of the Year Award!  Luis is the epitome of what this award represents. He is the consummate community partner and is always looking for solutions to issues facing so many in our neighborhoods. I have witnessed his selfless leadership and influence in Kennett Square Borough, although the impact of his efforts can be seen throughout Southern Chester County.”

Tovar is a passionate voice for the Hispanic community of Kennett Square and has completed six years as chairman for the borough’s Advisory Commission on Latino Affairs (ACOLA). He works tirelessly to ensure affordable and equitable housing, accessible transportation and awareness of the value and cultural depth that the Hispanic community brings to our diverse community. This past year, Tovar’s hard work and many connections brought together an amazing group of Hispanic contributors to the Kennett Memorial Day Parade. This included Aztec dancers, Mariachi, Caballeros, traditional folkloric dancers, and memorials of Hispanic soldiers were carried by students from Kennett High School. 

When he is not devoting himself to community service work or spending time with his family, he can be found in the Kennett Square office of Berkshire Hathaway where he is an active real estate broker. 

Jerry Strusowski, office sales leader of the Berkshire Hathaway Home Services Fox & Roach Realtors, Kennett Square office, reflected on the contributions Tovar has made in the industry. 

“Luis is a positive contributor to our office culture,” he said. “He is always eager to participate in any charitable event we undertake and is always willing to help any of our sales associates.”

Southern Chester County Chamber of Commerce president and CEO Cheryl B. Kuhn said, “Luis Tovar is a longtime resident and a highly respected citizen of Kennett Square. Mr. Tovar makes a difference as an exemplary volunteer at many community events and meetings and making connections at all levels. We are proud to include Luis as the 2023 award recipient and we look forward to celebrating with him and his family at our Gala on March 18.”

The presentation of the 2023 Outstanding Citizen of the Year will be held at the 56th Annual Gala. The event highlights an evening of celebration, dinner, dancing, and a silent auction that benefits the chamber’s Education and Scholarship Fund supporting deserving high school students from Avon Grove, Kennett, and Unionville high schools, and the Chester County Technical College High School – Pennock’s Bridge Campus and the Pennsylvania Free Enterprise Week program. 

Chairman’s Gala event sponsors include the presenting sponsor Constellation Energy Corporation and the reception sponsor WSFS Bank.

To view a complete list of sponsors, please visit www.scccc.com.

Established in 1968, the Outstanding Citizen of the Year Award signifies exemplary volunteer efforts, community service, vision, leadership, and citizenship of individuals who positively influence the welfare of the Southern Chester County community. Since that time, our community has gathered annually to honor the men and women, who have served the community in this manner and, in doing so, received this prestigious award for their efforts.